Editor's Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.
Coca-Cola Christmas Truck to Visit Poznań on Dec. 13
For almost 30 years, red trucks have been immersing residents of towns and cities alike in the magical holiday spirit. This year, they will visit more towns and cities to provide visitors with a wealth of attractions. They have visited Poznań several times and have always attracted large crowds. This year may be no different. On November 30th, the Coca-Cola Christmas truck convoy set off again across Poland. It will visit a total of seven cities, and numerous attractions and charitable initiatives await participants.
This year's tour began in Warsaw on November 30th. On December 4th, the distinctive truck visited Opole, on December 6th, Kielce, and on December 7th, Kraśnik. On December 12th, it arrived in Radom, on December 13th, it will visit Poznań, and its tour concludes on December 15th in Ełk.
Visitors can look forward to many festive attractions, including a 360-degree photo booth, an interactive game, decorating Christmas baubles, and a screen where visitors can send their own wishes. Visitors will also have the opportunity to write a letter to Santa Claus, which will be delivered to Lapland.
The Christmas truck will stop at Plac Wolności in Poznań next Saturday. Visitors can visit it from 4 p.m. to 8p.m.
Jeżyce Variety Market Returns With Holiday Edition and Live Performances
This Saturday, December 13th, Jeżyce will be filled with a festive atmosphere. From 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, the next edition of the Jeżyce Variety Market will take place – an event combining concerts, performances, workshops, and offerings from local artisans and artists.
The Jeżyce Variety Market is an initiative jointly organized by local institutions, organizations, and residents. Each year, the fair attracts Poznań residents with its unique atmosphere, combining a festive atmosphere with the local character of the district. Attendees can expect a rich program of staged attractions and workshops, as well as numerous exhibitor booths.
Concerts, shows and a winter photo wall
The event program includes performances, concerts, and a fire show. The festive space will be complemented by a photo wall featuring dancing hedgehogs – the perfect place to take a souvenir photo.
Stage program: 4:00 p.m. - "Grudniowo na ludowo" - a spectacle for children (Kulturka)
5:00 p.m. - Christmas carols concert performed by the Canticorum Choir
6:00 p.m. - a concert of the Beat Wise band
7:30 p.m. - a concert of the Przebiśniegi band
9:00 p.m. - "The Ice Queen" - a spectacle with fire (Soma Theater)
The workshop zone will be open from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The program includes juggling workshops led by Pantomimka and the "Make Your Own Jeżycka Bag" craft workshop by Idalia Mantas. A photo wall by Magda Chodorowska will be available from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Exhibitors will present cuisines from around the world, including vegan and original dishes, as well as Portuguese delicacies and dishes inspired by Balinese cuisine. Hot infusions, mulled wine, soups, desserts, and natural products such as honey, baked goods, and artisanal coffee will be available. The market will feature handmade Christmas decorations, jewelry, wood and ceramic products, macramé, crocheted winter accessories, stained glass, prints, soy candles, and works by local artists. There will also be booths selling vintage clothing, bags, and pet accessories, as well as literature, linocuts, posters, and postcards.
The Jeżyce Variety Market is an event created by residents for residents. Its goal is to build neighborhood bonds, support local artists, and develop the district's unique character.
New Zoo Hosts ‘Christmas With Bears’ Event, Featuring Animal Tours and Santa
A visit from Santa Claus, workshops for children, and a tour of a brown bear den – all this awaits Poznań residents this coming Saturday at the New Zoo. During the holiday gathering, you'll also be able to donate blood and receive family vouchers in return.
This Saturday, December 13th, Poznań's New Zoo will host "Christmas with Bears"—a festive encounter with animals, complete with fun activities for children. You'll also have the opportunity to help those in need—a blood drive will be stationed at the zoo entrance from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. Everyone who donates blood will receive a family voucher (for two adults and three children) for admission to the New Zoo on any day (until June 30, 2026).
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., you'll be able to hear stories about animals and watch feeding demonstrations. This is a unique opportunity to visit the Nocturnal Animals Pavilion, home to vampire bats, among others. The keepers of pandas, takins, lynxes, camels, tamanduas, and tawny owls will also reveal the secrets of their charges.
The Elephant House will also be visited by a special guest – Santa Claus himself. Children will learn more about the winter habits of animals and make natural bird beads. The main characters, however, will be the bears. Visitors will be able to explore their dens and make their own Christmas gifts for these unique animals. While preparing the gifts, zoo staff will share interesting facts about bears.
Many attractions await at the Giraffe and Black Rhino Pavilion, which will feature an education, ecology, and winter inspiration zone. Visitors will be able to learn about virtual animal adoption and participate in a charity fundraiser. The program also includes close encounters with invertebrates and workshops where volunteers can create eco-friendly Christmas tree decorations and learn about key safety and orientation tips.
There's an educational competition with prizes for children, and all visitors can enjoy Christmas treats and hot drinks. Weather permitting, you can also take a ride on the Christmas train.
The festival will last until 5 p.m. More information can be found on the zoo's website.
Poznań’s Christmas Tree Lights Up Old Market Square
Dozens of Poznań residents gathered at Poznań City Hall on Saturday to witness the lighting of the city's Christmas tree on St. Nicholas Day. At the same time, the illuminations surrounding the Old Market Square also lit up.
This year's Christmas tree is a whopping 16 meters tall and stands right next to Poznań City Hall. On Saturday, December 6th, it was officially lit. Before this important moment, however, the residents of Poznań gathered in the Old Market Square had the opportunity to listen to the youth band Erato. Afterward, the children's long-awaited special guest, St. Nicholas, appeared. This extraordinary St. Nicholas Day evening also featured songs by Gospel Joy, one of the most popular groups of its kind in Poland.
"We're in the final three weeks of waiting for Christmas," says Jacek Jaśkowiak, Mayor of Poznań. "I wish you a peaceful time. And for those still considering buying gifts, I encourage you to visit Poznań's Christmas markets. You'll find unique handicrafts there."
Christmas illuminations are being installed successively on Poznań's streets. As in previous years, they will reference stories told as part of the Poznań Legends Trail for Children, through the Gate of Poznań.
While walking around the city, you'll be able to see light elements referencing local legends: "About Poznań's Goats" (Old Market Square), "About St. Martin's Croissants" (Klasztorna Street), "About the Tailor from Chwaliszewo" (Chwaliszewo Street), "About the Founding of Poznań" (Ostrów Tumski Street), "About the Golden Cross from Chwaliszewo" (Wielka Street), "About the Beef Hide" (Świętosławska Street), "About Poznań's Pipes" (Wroniecka Street), "About the Raven King" (Old Market Square), and "About how the devils tried to sink Poznań" (Zamkowa Street). Each illumination will have a QR code next to it, allowing you to learn more about the story.
There will be more light decorations inspired by legends than last year. New festive decorations will also appear on the Old Town streets: Wrocławska, Szkolna, Wodna, Wielka, Paderewskiego, Szewska, Żydowska, the Old Market Square, Kolegiacki Square, and Ostrów Tumski.
As usual, the Bishop Jordan Bridge and downtown streets will be illuminated. Christmas trees will also be displayed in the Jeżycki, Wildecki, Wielkopolski, Łazarski, and Bernardyński markets. Decorations will be installed on lampposts on Teatralny Bridge, Św. Marcin Street, 27 Grudnia Street, Wolności Square, and Marcinkowskiego Avenue.
The illuminations will decorate the city until February 2, 2026.
Yatta Manga Store to Open Second Location in Poznań Mall
"Yatta" opens its store in the Posnania shopping mall.
This is a comic book and merchandise store for pop culture fans. Manga is a Japanese comic book characterized by a unique graphic style. Interestingly, manga is read from right to left, rather than the traditional left-to-right reading. Manga is an important element of Japanese culture, and it has a growing fan base among teenagers in Poland.
The new Yatta store will feature Japanese sweets, comics, books, figurines, and various other Japanese-themed gadgets. This is the second Yatta store in Poznań, the first being located on Grobla Street.
Yatta announced on social media on Monday that it will soon open a brick-and-mortar store in Poznań on Pleszewska Street in a shopping mall. However, the store's owners are not disclosing the exact opening date.
Illuminated Christmas Tram Rolls Out Dec. 6 With Festive Decor and Santa Theme
On St. Nicholas Day, a tram illuminated with Christmas lights will hit the streets of Poznań. It will take passengers to the Christmas markets held at Wolności Square, the Old Market Square, and the Poznań International Fair. It will run for a month, until Epiphany.
December is a time when Poznań's streets are illuminated with unique displays, and the tracks are filled with festive cheer. On Saturday, December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, a tram will run for the first time on route 24, illuminated with thousands of lights and featuring a Santa Claus hat above the driver's cab. It will operate in Poznań until January 6th, 2026, making it easier to reach Christmas markets.
This season, as in the previous one, the Siemens Combino (tail number 507) will be decorated. It is woven with nearly a kilometer of string, each adorned with 7,000 LED lights. The tram will illuminate the streets, displaying impressive patterns and animations, adding a festive atmosphere to the city's daily rhythm. Thanks to decorations affixed to the walls, handrails, and floor, as well as aromatization (the scent of gingerbread will waft through the vehicle), the atmosphere of the approaching holidays will be felt inside the car as well.
The Christmas tram will run from December 6th until January 6th, 2026, every day of the week, from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM (hourly departures). It will run from Górczyn via Głogowska, Kaponiera, and Święty Marcin Streets to the city center, then via Marcinkowskiego Avenue and Gwarna Street towards Kaponiera and back to Górczyn. Exceptionally, on inauguration day, December 6th, and on Saturday, December 13th, the tram will run on an extended route.
Line No. 24
GÓRCZYN PKM - Głogowska - Roosevelta - Kaponiera Roundabout - St. Marcin - Marcinkowskiego Avenue - Wolności Square - 27 Grudnia - Gwarna - St. Marcin - Kaponiera Roundabout - Roosevelta - Głogowska - GÓRCZYN PKM
Line no. 24 - extended route on Saturday, December 6
GÓRCZYN PKM - Głogowska - Roosevelta - Kaponiera Roundabout - St. Marcin - Marcinkowskiego Avenue - Podgórna - Strzelecka - Queen Jadwiga - Górna Wilda - June 28, 1956 - DĘBIEC PKM
(return: DĘBIEC PKM -... - Al. Marcinkowskiego - Wolności Square - 27 Grudnia - Gwarna - Św. Marcin - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Głogowska - GÓRCZYN PKM)
Line No. 24 - extended route on Saturday, December 13
GÓRCZYN PKM - Głogowska - Roosevelta - Zwierzyniecka - Kraszewskiego - Dąbrowskiego - Rondo Kaponiera - Św. Marcin - Marcinkowskiego Avenue - Wolności Square - 27 Grudnia - Gwarna - Św. Marcin - Rondo Kaponiera - Roosevelta - Głogowska - GÓRCZYN PKM
On tram line 24, fares will be charged in accordance with the ZTM ticket tariff in Poznań.
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